Experimental double infection with Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks.

Experimental parenteral inoculation of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks with the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii (C.b.) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus resulted in a generalized rickettsial and viral infection, irrespective of whether the agents were given simultaneously or by a 7 days interval apart. Both agents multiplied intensively in ticks, C.b. being detectable predominantly in cytoplasmic vacuoles and TBE virus mostly in the endoplasmic reticulum.